How We Live

Yes, this is one activity that still makes us smile and we can still enjoy. We were in Hot Springs last weekend when we found this busy little pancake house. We walked most of the Historical District and found this one to be the busiest so that was all we needed to walk in. Actually we had to wait for a table. Not knowing what they served outside of what we saw on other peoples plates I asked a "local" what the specialty was here. She said no one goes away hungry because they serve large portions but she mentioned the pancakes that were as large as dinner plates very good. We ordered just one apiece with fruit inside and they were big and adequate for our meal. Reminded us a little bit of the Original Pancake House in California that we have gone to on occasion. That explains the smile on the Dutchman's face - food.

The main reason for going to Hot Springs was to actually see and feel the water coming out of the rock steaming because it is so hot. We didn't think it was worth close to $100.00 to get the real feel but we did experience it in a small way. I have no problem believing that there is healing in those waters. This spring to the left was located right behind a hotel that "catered" to real patients but allowed us to "touch. The whole east side of the street is filled with hotel/motels which must have access to the springs inside the building. They are rather old buildings but they still seemed to have lots of people come for health or pleasure reasons.

Friday our tour took us to Little Rock for the Arkansas State Fair. It was interesting how different cultural parts of the fair featured Arkansas projects and that is what makes such fairs, etc. so interesting. Of course, we had to eat there and the attraction for us was a huge grill with humongous pork chops on it. Sharing was definitely a must, it was very good.

Our day wouldn't be complete without a trek up this hill to make phone calls. Wilmer is the blue speck in the corner of the picture in case you didn't notice. Weekends are usually easier but still with the dense growth of trees and the winding and curvy terrain that isn't always so good either. I am so thankful that our internet usually works. Sitting beside the road in this position guarantees we have gotten through to someone. So glad the hill is doable for us to access a signal.

We have been attending a Baptist Church that we think is very good for us. The preaching
has a lot of theology for us to discuss later, the choir is very good and we like the S.S. Last Sunday we even stayed for a dinner that had the purpose of raising money for Glenhaven. One ethnic food item was corn bread with actual corn in it. Some of you may have that all the time but it was new to us. Very moist and delicious. So good to learn from others.

Dad has been continuing with maintenance work. He does plumbing, electrical, wood working, etc. He always says he is a shade tree expert of every line of work. I think he has some of those down fairly good by now. The weather here has been terrific for working. It really cools off at night but days can't be beat. And yesterday was the first rainy day we have had here. After a week of painting for another gal and myself we finally got into the school however it was to organize a teacher/Principal's storeroom. Our first job was to organize the things on the floor. That was about half the work. Actually she came into the job quite suddenly and the former teacher hadn't been as organized as she could have been. We sorted, carried, marked, packed for a couple of days and today we started giving it a good housecleaning. It is fun to see what a difference we can make by helping someone who has such a huge work load.

Another one of the horses and small lake. It has a purpose, the young people/residents who are here have various hobbies or crafts but probably don't get to display them for some time and the Ranch tries to match them up with some activity that can be worked on at the Ranch.. One girl took on a wild horse. She worked for many months and now is able to walk beside it, give it commands, do some fancy work with the horse. She is going to a show this weekend so the staff person helping her wanted her to perform for us before the show so the horse would get use to noise, lights. etc and Jess could get some experience. She did a nice performance for us. At one point the horse got a stubborn streak in its head but she kept her mind on the rules under such circumstances and went on to complete the drill. It is beyond imagining what all the staff does for the residents here. They house them, feed them, school them, work them, play with them and most of all they love them. Such a job is not about instant success but about changing lives and changed they will be when they leave here. One staff member got a letter recently from a resident who had been here 20 years ago. His life is now on track and he wanted to thank the staff that was here 20 years ago. He said he did not remember much of the Ranch except for the love he was shown. Those letters make it all worthwhile.

Done rambling about our life style at the moment. Its good for us and we pray we make a difference in someone else's life as well.

Love to you all,

Mom and Dad Marilyn and Wilmer

Glenhaven Ranch

This month finds us at Glenhaven Ranch near Russelville, Arkansas. A lot of changes - weather, project people, camp staff and camp purpose. This Ranch is totally dedicated to young people between 13-15 years of age with a few younger and a few older. It is a resident Ranch with all the residents living with house parents. The residents can go home once a month, if they have a home to go to. Probably some dysfunction in the home or trouble with the law brought the kids here so most of them are here against their will. As in the Ranch in Orlando, FL that we worked at 2 years ago the structure is tight, discipline is strict and Bible study is mandatory. We have not seen one instant of rebellion from the residents, we see young people who we hope finally get to the point of wanting to make their life count for something. The average stay is 1 1/2 years with some staying on for 5 years. Several of the staff were here as residents when they were a little younger. A wonderful place filled with love and a desire that the young people would commit to being good citizens as well as have a foundation built on God's love. Love has not been evident in their lives up to now so it is a hard concept to grasp. Who loves me?

The first picture is where Laurie and I have spent the working portion of the last 2 days. No, we do not call it a dungeon for nothing because it is a pump house with a dirt floor which angles precariously in various degrees and has a fine sand topping which is slippery if your feet aren't firmly planted in the dirt. Also the pump and various accessories are all over the place so only a small portion of flooring is available for us to stand on. We are to paint the ceiling, walls, shelves, doors, etc. So after I have set the stage of the pump house we can still say that we are having fun (of a sort, doesn't take much to make us happy, right?). I have decided it really doesn't matter if you work in a "pump house" or in a surrounding that is very nice. It still is painting and if we can have fun doing it so much the better. This project is a challenge but also a simple job because anything we do will be such a huge improvement. Again, I trim and Laurie rolls. We don't have to be scared of spilling. In fact I filled my little pail too full yesterday and before I noticed it paint was running out of the bottom of the handle (it is a patent something like an overflo in a sink or tub). Just hadn't seen that little item quick enough so I had a trail of paint from pail to wall. I guess on dirt floor such things don't matter.

As some of you know our cell phone doesn't work down in the valley where we are parked. We do have Internet for which we are glad because it does give us some mode of communication with all of you. So after lunch I go up the hill and do some calling. The place I sit has a nice view which you see in the picture. There is a little lake a midst the trees and the white peeking through the trees is where the RV's are parked. Not the most convenient situation but workable.

Dad continues to be the oldest male working on the project but he will pit his strengh and agility against any of the others and he will win. He is doing mostly plumbing so far but they have a lot of little electrical jobs (one of the men is a former electrician) and they have other general construction jobs as well. The Ranch staff that we work for is a Hawaiian and a fun guy to be around. He is so dedicated and works so hard that it is easier for us to have the desire to do a good job and do it well.

I skipped a lot of the fun stuff we did last weekend but the internet is giving me fits so I will sign off for now and try to blog again within the week.

Thanks for your love and we love you all more than we can say. Hope you are all doing well and enjoying the work or play or challenges or responsibilities that come your way each day.

Love, Mom/Dad Marilyn/Wilmer

WE ARE HEADING SOUTH

I don't often have pictures of this guy because I thought I must show you what the men do on project. This picture would only get better if he had his hard hat on. At least he calls it on even though it doesn't get much further down than the top tips of his ears. Lots of head and lots of gray matter - need space to hold all that knowledge he has accumulated. This is the building he worked in most of the time. I kinda generalized the last time about just what they did. After changing windows, removing walls and then finding out the other half of the Camp Leader (wife) wanted them back in again, improving fireplace and leveling the floor they did get a lot done. The walls that one of our team mudded needed painting but that will wait for another group to come and finish.
We do spend a lot of time praying when on project but these men had another purpose for being "on their knees". Now you know why the knee pads. The glue was put on one day with hopes it would have turned clear the next so they could lay the tile. However, the cool weather slowed down the progress so heaters had to be brought in so the glue was in the right stage. It was hard work but it really made the room look complete as so many of you home project people know. Clothing may look similar from day to day and clothes do not have a high priority here. For those of us who paint and wipe their hands on their clothing, like I do, we usually wear the same things pretty much all month and then pitch them and go to goodwill and buy a replacement.
Of course you know had proud we were of the rec room. This is the south end looking out over the lake. We finished the day we left except for the "mop" boards. That isn't the politically correct name for them but it is the only way I know them. Wow, did we think the room looked nice, that is, nicer than when we first saw it. Again, we painted the floor with 2 layers of paint as well. Hope the paint lasts awhile. Seems tile would have been better but in a non-profit place paint is more doable.

Actually I am writing this from Branson, MO. We left Grand Rapids, MN on the 29th of Sept. for Arkansas but with a stopover in Sioux Center for 2 days. We had a lot on the list to do but many things were added. We planned it so we could be home for Brian's Outstanding Alumni award banquet on Saturday night. We planned to visit Cindy and we did and we also found a couple landlord duties as well. Herb celebrated his birthday on Friday so we could get in on that. We went to the Chinese Buffet - good food and a buffet - doesn't get any better than that. Then Kaye scooped up peach pie and ice cream at their home. Brian, Donna, Becky and Tekoa came to our house on Thursday night. Enjoyed all but to see how Tekoa is advancing so fast was great for us. We voted absentee, very important this year. Visited with the realtor and heard houses are still not moving well at all. That is okay with us. The uncertainly isn't so handy but we do like coming home to a house. It was kinda a whirlwind but wouldn't have done it any different if we could have.

We are in Branson for a conference by Dr. Jeremiah. What a powerful speaker, Also included will be programs by Guy Pinrod and Mark Lowry. Beautiful weather here and hope it stays nice as we work our way down further south. Love you all. Have a great fall. Until next week, Dad and Mom Marilyn/Wilmer.

FRIENDS FELLOWSHIP FUN

The past week has included all of the above. Working so closely with people from MN, TX, MT KS and PA gives way to lots of comparing and sharing about our diverse occupations and living style. The one thing we have in common is our love for the Lord and how we can work for Him even in our more elderly years. By the way, I still have a problem thinking they are talking to me when they refer to an elderly woman. And I had that at the Sioux Center Hospital just before we left. Oh well, wish she could follow us around for awhile and she may see just how these "elderly" people live. See how hard it is to really identify with that term?

We finally made a visit to Arend and Verna Sandbulte last Saturday. They are always so much fun to visit with. As couples before either were married we and other couples spent many a Sunday evening together going to one of the "girls" house for fun and the girls always made sure that they had something in the house for a lunch for the "guys". But it never really was complete until the girls would find something unexpected to hide in one of the guys' food. (Seems those stunts were even tried in our own household thru out the years) That was a long time ago,we both have been married over 56 years, but the good memories continue. They have a beautiful home on the shore of Lake Superior in Duluth, about 100 miles from where we are spending the month of Sept.

On our way to Zion Lutheran Church Sunday we drove right past this lake and then decided we must turn around and take a picture as it will never look exactly the same at any time after. The peak of the colored foliage was last week. Even now the leaves are starting to turn brown and have lost some of their glory.

Riding past wooded areas it is hard to imagine there are so many people living in the midst of those trees but there are many, some bordering the shore and some further in. On a pontoon ride last Sunday we came across this beautiful scene. I don't have a clue who lives there but it is a picture I may want to enlarge. Hope they don't have legitimate claims against me if I use the picture.

Getting back to the church, it has stained glass windows the total length of the sanctuary behind the platform and pulpit. It tells the creation story beginning with the unformed mass and following the 6 days of creation. It is interesting how churches and all architecture reflects the resources of the area. Much use is made of large timber beams and they aren't enclosed but used to display there place in buildings. Thru the years timber has played a significant role in the industrial arena as has mining. We toured a iron ore mine as well. Of course fish is another item that is plentiful. Our whole team was invited to a fish fry last Friday night at the home of former RVICSers. They catch the fish right on the lake near their house - would be a dream for some people.

Acturally I can say I am enjoying the painting these last few weeks. To think we can do something constructive for kids and adults to enjoy while at this camp is great. Our twosome has some dedicated painting to do tomorrow and then we will be close to finished. We are leaving tomorrow afternoon (Wednesday) for a couple days at home so I won't see it totally done but close enough to give me an idea how it looks. The floor is a challenge but the improvement it makes is worth the effort. Really I wish we could stay a couple of weeks more so we could do some necessary cleaning in the rec room and other rooms but that won't work for now. The whole team is excited about the, nearly, finished product but not so much as to offer us some help. They had other jobs that needed doing as well. Dad continues his remodeling on the cabins. The latest challenge is the tile but they are making good headway on that. Funny the first weeks we work the end seems far away and we aren't so attached to the job but as the last week rolls around we realize and desire to get the work done. The way it has to be I guess.

We will be in Sioux Center Thursday afternoon until Sunday noon. Hope to see some of you in that time.

Love to you all, Mom and Dad Wilmer/Marilyn whatever fits

COATS OF MANY COLORS

We are experiencing colors all around us. As you know we love to ride in the country and see the foliage colors change. The colors are getting nice but the most beauty will come in a week or two. This picture is just a few feet from where we are parked. The day this was taken was perfectly still as you can see on the water. How could mankind ever duplicate this beauty - no way. What a riot of color it will be in just a few days.

Dad continues to break down and put up walls, floors, fixtures and more in the attempt to restore some semblance of beauty/tidiness to two cabins. Like always when a remodeling project is tackled unexpected obstacles show up. The obstacle facing them now is to lay new tile in the cabin, bathrooms, hallways and entry ways. Aside from the row directly down the middle all the tiles must be cut. Remember how old buildings are never square? Same true of these cabins. Age has taken its toll on the building, somewhat like age does to our bodies as we grow older. A creak here, a moan there, a sagging here or there, loss of strength in the extremities, etc. you get the picture. Wonder if RVICS could take care of some of these complaints, bet they would have more business than they bargained for. They better just stick with material restoration.

My group of 2 or 3 is still busy painting our coats of many colors. We should start on the floor tomorrow so that is exciting, we think. Most of the walls have been done with primer and 2 or 3 coats of paint. Believe me we know how to clean brushes and rollers. This room is the recreation room so gets a lot of traffic. We do hope those that use it will appreciate the work that went into it. But still, we were called to paint and the appreciation is just a neat benefit if it comes.

There was a women's retreat here at camp the past weekend. Not a large group but a very joyful group. We ate with them for 3 meals so we got to meet some of them. The first night we ate with them we sat by 2 young women. They asked where our "real" home was and the one was very interested in that. (I don't think she was playing dutch bingo) We came to know that her husband grew up in Inwood and his name was Ter Wee. After a few more questions we discovered that her mother-in-law was a sister of Harlan Kooima. Small world, yes? We have been emailing and learning a little more of each ones family. She had triplets almost 5 years ago. She was surprised we know as much about her at we did. Hey, grandparents do not let kids and grandkids go without talking about them once in a while. What could be better do than brag about our kids and grandkids.

We continue to have good health and enjoy (most) our work. The interaction and devotional times are such a blessing to us. Hope you are all doing well and enjoying the unusually warm weather in NW Iowa and SD the last couple of days.

We will be leaving this project a day early so will be leaving on Wed. Sept. 29 after work. We hope to be in Sioux Center by Thursday afternoon. We are leaving then so we can attend the Northwestern event. We plan to be home until Sunday noon if all goes well.

Love you much! Dad and Mom/ Marilyn Wilmer

OUT of retirement-again

The fall projects of RVICS began 2 weeks ago.. Our project took us to Grand Rapids, MN, yes that is Minnesota not Michigan. It is in northern MN, near Hibbing. For those who don't know we are scheduled to do our next project in Arkansas and Nov. takes us to Louisiana. We will stop at home when we leave here, home as in Sioux Center, for 2 days as Brian is being honored at Northwestern College for being chosen an Outstanding Alumnus. We are so glad that our schedule allows us to be in the area for 2 days because of transit time between projects. The banquet is Oct. 2.

Of course we couldn't just make a trip of 400 miles to N MN in one stretch. We really do have a self-made rule that we do not travel with the RV more than 300 miles in a day. Hey, we are retired. So we stopped and spent a day in MN, mainly spending a day at Mall Of America. It is such an interesting place to visit but we made a lot of steps for the couple things we bought.

This Conference Center is not very large and the spot where all 6 of the RVs are parked is just a few feet from the right of this picture. As always the camp provides the parking place and supplies all the utilities. And we do have Wi-Fi and cell phone coverage in the RVs. Granted the cell phone isn't always so predictable but we are trying a new sophisticated cell phone and we are still in the experimental stage of learning all its capabilities and that is also part of the problem.

The men are reconstructing a couple of cabins. Tearing up floor tile, knocking out walls, putting up dry wall, laying tile, doing a little electrical work, plumbing. etc. is what the men's work is all about. With 6 men with various backgrounds it is surprising how every one's expertise compliments the group. The women are doing sewing, stenciling, painting. Guess what, I got to paint. Actually it is kind of fun this month because one other female and I are painting everything in a high ceiling rec room. The room has at least 6 different types of wall board so that makes it interesting. But Nette and I paint over everything. And since money is always short at the camps we are using all the paint left over from previous jobs. I will try to send a picture when it is finished but for now you can just visualize this-little bit of blue, find a small wall, more red find a bigger wall etc. etc. We have put on red, blue, green, orange, yellow in several shades and a few others. It sounds weird but the room is looking better and we hope the campers that come appreciate it. Nette is the "roller" and I trim which is what I prefer doing. We can't do a second coat even tho that would be good because we use all the paint on the first coat. Next week we get to paint the floor! That should tie the whole room together - I hope.

The weather here is cool and we had rain several times. I guess I heard too much on TV about the floods, etc. because one night when it was really raining (and you really hear it in an RV) I thought all the RVs were going to float right into the lake. Nope, we stayed put.

Girls, we already found out where the buffets are located, the Chinese one is almost as good as the Sioux Center one and that takes a lot.

We appreciate the calls and emails so much. Please keep it up. We are healthy, in fact, Dad says the project work makes him stronger but after this summer with putting in egress windows and all I can't image this work being harder than what he did at home all summer.

Love you all, Mom and Dad/Wilmer and Marilyn or even Pa and Ma (right Cindy?)

P.S. So busy touring, socializing, Bible studies and of course work I have had little time to work on genealogy or scrapbooking but I do pick at it a little from time to time. Fun!

OUT of retirement-again

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